Engineering in the movies

From the early days of cinema to the latest blockbusters, movies have the power to amaze, inspire and entertain with incredible storylines, memorable characters and fantastic special effects.

Engineering in the Movies lets pupils explore the creative and practical side of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) in films while introducing the important role of engineers in the industry

Through 12 engaging activities, pupils will see how topics from their subject lessons can be applied in real-world engineering. This resource provides hands-on thematic education opportunities for pupils interested in the magical world of movies that can be taught in the classroom as an enrichment programme.

A teachers guide is available by clicking the download PDF button in the banner above.

Video guides

Watch the video series, put together by one of our 46 teacher coordinators

Each video will help you plan and use each of the activities below.

Engineering in the movies is a curriculum-linked Key Stage 2 and 3 resource that explores the science, technology, engineering and maths involved in the film industry, produced by the Royal Academy of Engineering – the UK’s national academy for engineering and technology. Linked to the STEM curriculum, the Academy’s learning and teaching resources have been developed in partnership with school teachers and engineers to enhance and enrich lessons in the classroom, after-school clubs, and STEM challenge days.

Puzzling Parallax is a maths and science focused activity exploring depth created by moving objects from the foreground differently to objects in the distance. It is part of the Royal Academy of Engineering’s ‘Engineering in the movies’ series.

The Magic Drum is an engineering and technology focused activity to design and make a zoetrope, taking a series of still images to make animated pictures. It is part of the Royal Academy of Engineering’s ‘Engineering in the movies’ series.

Activities

There are 12 activities to complete. They can be used in sequence, or picked to suit the needs of the class and the resources available.

Each activity is straightforward, fun and achievable in the classroom. A selection of materials used in each activity are included in the resource box. A full curriculum map is shown below so you can see which activities match your group, aims, time and resource available.

You can download each individual activity sheet from the links below.

A puzzling parallax: KS3 Science KS3 Maths

Magic drum

Develop creative, technical and practical expertise; design and make high-quality functional products; test, evaluate and refine their ideas and products.

Creating movie magic: KS2/3 Computing

Undertake creative projects that involve selecting, using and combining multiple applications to achieve challenging goals.

Chemical eruption: KS3 Science KS2/3 Design & Technology

Chemical reactions; energetics; energy changes and transfers Select from and use a wide range of materials and ingredients, considering their properties; test, evaluate and refine their ideas and products.

Pop rockets: KS3 Science KS2/3 Design & Technology

Motion and forces; pressure in fluids. Understand and use the properties of materials and the performance of structural elements to achieve functioning solutions; design and make high-quality functional products.

Over the rainbow: KS3 Science KS3 Maths

Experimental skills and investigations; light waves. Geometry - properties of shapes; geometry - position and direction; solve problems.

Good vibration

Earthquake proof

Removing resistance: KS2/3 Science KS2/3 Design & Technology

Forces and motion; magnetism. Understand and use the properties of materials and the performance of structural elements to achieve functioning solutions; test, evaluate and refine their ideas and products.

Related resources

CTA block 2